Summer 2010 will be full of bold, bright colors and prints, with designers choosing to use patterns inspired by such diverse sources as ethnic fabrics, island style fabrics, graphic black and white optical illusions, and big, blossoming flowers. The colors are bright and contrasting, and patterns are mixed and matched to emphasize their effects.
Autumn Winter 2010 looks set to change all this and introduce some more subtle colors and shapes. There was an emphasis on ladylike elegance at the 2010 Paris fashion week, with designers Dries Van Noten and Marc Jacobs (at Louis Vuitton) showing off the femininity of their models with some very grown up looks. Elsewhere the rather staid and formal shapes of the clothes at these two shows was counteracted by the lacy, girly options at the Valentino and Stella McCartney shows. Bucking the trend for feminine shapes and materials somewhat, Isabel Marant offered a selection of boyfriend style jackets and cigarette leg pants.
Spring Summer 2010 is all about denim, detail and big, bold color flower girl dresses. There has been a superfluity of denim striding down the runways, with many designers dressing their models in in from head to toe, despite the fact that only a couple of years ago no self-respecting model would have been seen dead dressed this way. There has also been a very crafty, handmade feel to a lot of the clothes that have been making waves in fashion circles, with intriguing details and elements that look as if they could be homemade.
Elements that look set to crop up during the latter half of 2010 are grown up, ladylike trends, with carefully styled retro hair and beehives, Mad Men style suits and dresses, and a formal simplicity that will add an easy elegance to a lot of the outfits hitting stores this fall and winter. Colors are likely to be muted, making a radical change from the summers bright colors and shocking mixes of patterns and prints. One of the most important colors will probably be camel, with coats and suits in various shades appearing on numerous catwalks in the autumn winter shows. There is likely to be a continuing fascination with tiny and intricate details, although unlike the handmade looks of the spring and summer, these will be details that make ready to wear clothes look almost couture. Expect to see embroidery, artistic draping, twisting and beads on all sorts of clothes this fall and winter.
Fashion always thinks ahead, so it is perhaps easier to predict trends in what people will be wearing than in any other field.
